Mitsubishi 2000 Annual Report Download - page 22

R&D
To assure that the automobile continues to play its role as a
convenient and comfortable means of transport in the 21st
century, MMC continues to devote considerable resources to
the research and development of products that achieve a har-
monious balance with the environment.
To tackle the problems of global warming, atmospheric
pollution and disposal of ELV's, MMC recognizes the need
to improve fuel economy and reduce engine CO2emissions;
to reduce noxious emissions; and to promote the reduction of
environmental loading substances and recycling.
MMC's approach to environment technology R&D may
be summarized as follows. A single eco-friendly vehicle can
make only a very limited contribution to environmental pro-
tection. Encouraging the widespread use of such vehicles in
as short a timeframe as possible, however, will produce sub-
stantial and tangible improvements in environmental conser-
vation. For this to happen, it is crucial that relatively low-
cost technology be developed and commercially applied on a
widespread scale at the earliest possible time.
Environmental strategies
■Global warming: reducing CO2emissions
On a global scale, the major thrust in MMC's efforts to pro-
tect the environment is directed at reducing CO2emissions to
mitigate global warming.
GDI engines and GDI Sigma powertrains
MMC became the first company anywhere to mass produce
the GDI engine, which delivers major improvements in fuel
economy. This high-efficiency engine utilizes proprietary
stratified air-fuel combustion technology −basically the
generation of a vertical vortex in the cylinder to achieve ul-
tra-lean combustion. Costing little more than a conventional
engine, this environmental technology is applicable now and
worldwide.
First applied in Mitsubishi Galant and Legnum models in
August 1996, GDI engines now power over 800,000
Mitsubishi models in Japan and in Europe. The use of the
GDI engine to power more and more models in the
Mitsubishi lineup has seen a steady improvement in fleet fuel
economy since 1997.
The GDI Sigma Series powertrain, announced in March
1999, is a new environmental technology developed to maxi-
mize the superior fuel efficiency inherent to the GDI engine.
Wide-latitude control of mixture formation and of torque
are key elements in GDI technology. The GDI engine incor-
porates new combustion technology that enables very precise
control of mixture formation; the GDI Sigma series power-
train enables a high degree of torque control. Maximizing its
superior response, starting and torque characteristics, the
GDI Sigma powertrain improves fuel economy by mating the
GDI engine to, and harmonizing it with, new driveline tech-
nology, auxiliary motor and other peripheral components.
The following four GDI Sigma powertrain technologies were
announced in March 1999:
●GDI+CVT: Integrated control of GDI engine and continu-
ously variable transmission (CVT). Featured in the new
Lancer Cedia launched in May 2000.
●GDI+ASG: Idling stop-start system. Applied to the
Pistachio limited-edition model launched in December
1999.
●GDI+Turbo: High response and low fuel consumption.
Environmental stewardship & technology
20
GDI+CVT powertrain